About the publisher: Thanks to Los Angeles City Councilman John Lee for his ordinance giving police new tools to apprehend catalytic converter thieves. This is a crime against hardworking people who use their cars for transportation.

Alderman Marqueece Harris-Dawson, who voted against the ordinance, said “punishing people doesn’t help anyone.” How about this: If you don’t want to be punished for stealing, don’t steal.

He also said the ordinance would result in more black and Hispanic residents being stopped and questioned. Where is the logic in this statement? The teams that steal middlemen consist of young, burly men who strike in the middle of the night and are gone in less than 60 seconds. These are not poor, disabled citizens driving through the city streets.

Harris-Dawson also said, “If something is stolen from someone, the city should do everything it can to make sure it is made amends.” Okay, how will this holistic plan be implemented? I haven’t heard any suggestions.

The city officials who voted against must get a better grip on reality. Or maybe they should just have their own catalytic converters stolen.

Tracey Hasslein, Northridge

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About the editor: Councilman Eunisses Hernandez voted against giving law enforcement more powers to arrest catalyst thieves. She fears this will drive people of color through the revolving door of justice.

Anyone who has stolen an inverter, followed by weeks of waiting to hit the streets again for work or kids, doesn’t want that door to swing shut. We want it closed to people who commit a crime that requires planning, tools and sales to a criminal profiteer.

It should be every officer’s responsibility to stand up to society’s harassment, not encourage it with this social chatter.

Paul Ehrman, Santa Monica